V5 Chronicle - Faction Profile - The Crypts Sons

During the course of the various stories of this chronicle the coterie has and will meet many characters so I'm therefore creating several profile pages for different groups within my version of kindred Los Angeles to help them keep track. I'll also amend these profiles as new information comes to light and old 'facts' turn out to be less factual than originally thought...
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The Crypts Sons

Early History - Formation to 1999

Mohammed al-Muthlim - Lasombra
Crypt's Sons Founder

One of the heroes of the Sabbat siege of L.A. was an African-American vampire named Mohammed al-Muthlim (Mohammed of the Darkness), who was previously unknown among the L.A. Kindred. His valiant efforts on behalf of the city quickly earned him a reputation among the younger Kindred, and a coterie developed around this charismatic figure. Mohammed, for reasons known only to himself, slept in a crypt in an Inglewood cemetery. His followers therefore began to call themselves 'The Sons of the Crypt', or the 'Crypt's Sons;' over time, this name has often been shortened even further.

The Crypt's Sons rapidly took over the area surrounding their headquarters, and continued to expand their influence. Now the gang controls the communities of lnglewood, Watts, South Gate, Downey, Florence, Huntington Park, Bell, Cudahy, Bell Gardens, Maywood, Commerce, Lynwood, Compton, Vernon and Lennox.

At first the Crypt's Sons was a Kindred gang just like others in Los Angeles, mostly concerned with protecting its turf against poachers and other gangs. Mohammed, however, had much bigger plans. Without violating the Masquerade, he began to attract mortals into his coterie. These new members were typically young black males, dispossessed by the system: they wanted something bigger to give their loyalty to, and Mohammed gave them exactly what they were looking for. Using his Kindred followers as a base, he built one of the largest, most efficient and most dangerous gangs in the world. The gang is divided into neighbourhoods, and some groups even war with one another, but all members ultimately answered to Mohammed and his lieutenants.

The gang is heavily into gunrunning and the drug trade, and has tentacles in most major cities in the United States. The growth of the Crypt's Sons has caused considerable concern, not only among the Kindred, but in the mortal population of Los Angeles as well. One man, the Reverend John Davis, saw many of his congregation abandoning the church to join the Crypt's Sons, or living in fear of its depredations. The scope and organisation of the gang suggested that some larger force was behind it, and he became determined to find out what it was. By talking to the kids on the street, doing research and engaging in extremely dangerous surveillance, Davis traced the gang back to Mohammed al-Muthlim. When Davis witnessed an attack by a Crypt's Sons lieutenant on a neighbourhood child, he understood the true nature of the gang.

Since no one would believe a minister who went around yelling about vampires taking over Los Angeles, Davis decided to take another tack. He called a secret meeting of those mortal gangs the Crypt's Sons had battled in rising to power.

Vampire Hunters of 'The Blood'

He asked the gangs to form a group to combat the Crypt's Sons, or at least protect their own neighbourhoods. While some of the gangs rejected the idea, enough stayed and listened to form a 'home protection group.' Originally calling itself 'The Avengers,' this group eventually adopted the name its enemies scornfully used for it 'Vitae,' or 'Blood.' The war between the Crypt's Sons and The Blood has continued unabated. Sadly, John Davis became one of the earliest casualties, found in his study with his throat torn out.

His followers swore to continue the war against the vampires, and they have done so. The Reverend Leon Cutler, the son of one of John Davis' original followers, now leads the group in Los Angeles. While most of its members engage in normal gang activity, its leaders have studied everything they could find about vampires and have developed interesting tactics to combat them. In the process they became a major stumbling block to Mohammed al-Muthlim's dreams of conquering Los Angeles and spreading his influence around the world. As long as the Blood confines its attentions to the Crypt's Sons (so far that has taken all of its energy), the rest of the Kindred in L.A. who are aware of it allow it to continue operating. In fact, Salvador has very quietly gone about assisting the group in whatever ways he can, mostly by making large donations to the Reverend Cutler's church. He has also taken the dangerous step of Dominating one of the Reverend's lieutenants, whom he uses to pass information to the Blood.

Then, without warning, the so called 'Kindred of the East' massacred the kindred leaders, the majority of the gang members and a number of significant mortal assets and left Los Angeles. This attack was allegedly arranged by Salvador Garcia though he himself claims that this is Camarilla propaganda and that whoever perpetrated the attack did it entirely for their own ends. This may have been the end for the kindred aspect of the Crypt's Sons if it wasn't for the perseverance of one Henrique 'Hank' Boyd.

Henrique 'Hank' Boyd - Brujah
Crypt's Sons Baron

Henrique Boyd, Baron
Aliases

'Hank'
Clan

9th Generation Brujah
Domain

The Crypt's Sons Barony (Chasse 5, Lien 5, Portillon 2)
Havens

House in South Central LA (Haven 2: Hidden Armoury 3, Postern 1: Side Door, Security System 2, Watchmen 10), Ranch in Commerce (Haven 3: Hidden Armoury 5, Library 1, Location, Luxury, Postern 3: Secret Tunnels, Security System 5, Watchmen 5)
Backgrounds

Allies (Crypt's Sons: Effectiveness 4, Reliability 3), Contacts 1-3 (Multiple Useful Mortals ), Herd 5 (Crypt's Sons), Influence 4, Mask 3 (Cobbler), Mawla 3 (Gary Golden), Resources 4, Retainer 2-3 (Ghouled Crypt's Sons Lieutenants, Multiple), Status 4 (Crypt's Sons Baron)
Merits

Linguistics (French)
Flaws

Enemy (The Blood: Effectiveness 4, Reliability 3), Prey Exclusion 1 (Children)
Lore

Descendent of Tyler (3: Tyler’s Mercy), Sect War Veteran (1: Survivor, 2: Active Participant, 4: No Vampire's Land)

Recent Events - 2000 to the Present
One of the survivors of the massacre was a senior kindred Lieutenant called Henrique Boyd, or 'Hank' to his friends. An ambitious individual, he had been attempting to increase his own power within the gang for some time and had his own small but determined set of kindred followers surrounding him as well as a large number of mortals who saw him as an up and coming gang leader, worthy of following. His considerable physical prowess was more than likely also a factor.

Tyler - Brujah

No-one is sure how Hank managed to avoid the fate of the majority of his fellow Crypt's Sons kindred but he emerged some time later, the only significant member of the gang with surviving followers and the resources to take back the control that had been lost. Claiming to be descended from the legendary Brujah 'Tyler' also bought many of his clan to fight at his side.

Unfortunately the absence of kindred supporters had allowed his enemies within the 'The Blood' to continue the work of the Eastern vampires and destroy havens, herds and the other remnants left by Mohammed al-Muthlim. Opportunist kindred from the Barony of the Angels had also seen the vacant domain as a gift and had moved into the most favourable of the locations left empty and attempted to bring Crypt's Sons mortal gangs under their own influence.

While Henrique 'Hank' Boyd and the Reverend Leon Cutler are the true heads of their gangs, the very nature of their forces means these leaders cannot oversee every aspect. These are not focused armies but widely disparate groups who do not acknowledge any one leader. For example, while a Crypt's Son from Los Angeles could seek assistance from the gang in Cleveland, he would have more luck if he had friends or relatives there. This decentralised leadership has resulted in numerous groups seizing control of parts of the gangs. The Ventrue and Giovanni clans, as well as werewolves and others, all have their local allies in the larger gangs. For instance, the Ventrue have taken over a number of different Blood gangs and can rival Cutler for influence, though neither side seems aware of the other's presence.

Even in Los Angeles itself the gangs have different agendas based on what part of the city they come from. In other cities this phenomenon has become even more pronounced.

Hank was unperturbed by the uphill struggle facing him and went on an aggressive recruiting campaign of the unaligned LA kindred and frequented 'A Taste of LA' extolling the benefits of being part of an established gang, with mortal muscle and a large number of money making enterprises. However with constant pressure from 'The Blood' and those interlopers who were unwilling to give up their stolen territory it took him two decades until he was ready to reclaim everything that he saw as rightfully his. Once ready however his campaign against the invaders was quick, brutal and very well organised. Many abandoned their turf before Hank's forces arrived, the gang of 'Priss' turned on their own neighbours in return for feeding rights in the reclaimed domain and the remainder were rolled over with minimal effort and more than acceptable losses.

'Priss' - Brujah

Priss, Border 'Baron'
Aliases

None
Clan

10th Generation Brujah (Though this is by no means certain)
Domain

Chasse 2, Lien 2, Portillon 3
Haven

Apartment Building (Haven 3: Hidden Armoury 3, Postern 1: Linked Basements, Security System 2, Watchmen 2)
Backgrounds

Allies (Crypt's Sons: Effectiveness 4, Reliability 3), Herd 3 (Building Residents), Influence 2, Mask 1, Resources 3, Status 1
Merits

Bond Resistance 3
Flaws

Despised 2 (Former Barony of the Angels Gangs), Infamy 2 (Betrayed Allies to 'Hank')
Derangements

Antisocial Personality Disorder (Suspected), Psychopathy (Suspected),
Lore

Kindred Iconography (1: Iconographer)

Though the former gangs of the Barony of the Angels would be happy to see Priss staked and left in the sun, her association with Hank has ensured that fear keeps them at bay, for now at least. She now rules a border barony that acts as a buffer between Hank and his immediate neighbours and she is well equipped by the Crypt's Sons in the weapons she needs to defend it on their behalf. She's also sensible enough to know that as it stands, 'border baron' is the best she can hope for as she has neither the support or resources to become a true Baron in her own right.

The only two members of her gang not of the Brujah clan are Arbaaz and Ophelia, Gangrel Sweepers inherited from another Barony of the Angels gang who were pragmatic enough to know which way the wind was blowing. Though the rest of her gang doesn't really trust them, they are good at their jobs, so are tolerated. Priss however seems to hold no prejudices against them and treats them as the equal of any other gang member.

Now Hank has the Crypt's Sons barony back, he's determined to keep it, as well as gain the respect he believes he's due from the other barons, that was denied to his predecessor. He now has the largest kindred gang in Los Angeles at his disposal numbering some thirty vampires. He also has alliances of convenience with the North-Eastern barony of Michael Tomassio, Gary Golden of the Nosferatu of the Hollywood Warrens and most recently Steve Booth of the newly created South Coast barony.

Unfortunately his expansion has triggered a new effort by The Crypt's Son arch rival The Bloods and they are determined, numerous and well aware of the weaknesses of vampires. This enemy within must be dealt with before he can even consider a permanent ending to the long rivalry with El Hermandad.

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Should you be interested in the chronicles and stories associated with these pages then links to them all can be found HERE.

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